Discussion
Just booked flights for early August for 10 days.
Flights are booked
Car rental, been looking and it seems to be the cheapest and best option only thing is I am struggling to actually find a car to rent on those dates, only go to May or so, and I get to drive some lovely super small auto box (yai)
so that's car and getting there sorted, now with the sightseeing
Studio Ghibli
Suzuka
Hiroshima
Mt Fuji, looks like a f
king epic road up there.
Tokyo city centre
Now Studio Ghibli and Tokyo city centre are roughly same locations so those can be done in a day.
Mt Fuji and Suzuka potential day trip as well, see if there is anything on at Suzuka.
Hiroshima, 11 hours from Tokyo, so realistically book a night in a hotel down that end, but if I am staying the night, I want to know what there is to do there.
Would love to do some rural areas and see ancient temples, but really not sure where yet.
My big concern though, driving in Japan, yes it is RHD and the indicator stalk is on the correct side of the vehicle, but whilst I am undertaking the task of learning Japanese, what is the etiquette there? How hard is parking in Tokyo and moving around there? And where do I get an international driving licence?
Also any epic roads where I can become the supah l337 dryft mastah of mega profit in my fwd auto box?
Last issue, where to stay, haven't booked hotel yet, the more I think about it, the more I think it is not wise to stay in Tokyo, as only really need a day in Tokyo, and from what I have gathered the traffic can be a nightmare.
Anything else is greatly appreciated
Flights are booked
Car rental, been looking and it seems to be the cheapest and best option only thing is I am struggling to actually find a car to rent on those dates, only go to May or so, and I get to drive some lovely super small auto box (yai)
so that's car and getting there sorted, now with the sightseeing
Studio Ghibli
Suzuka
Hiroshima
Mt Fuji, looks like a f
king epic road up there.Tokyo city centre
Now Studio Ghibli and Tokyo city centre are roughly same locations so those can be done in a day.
Mt Fuji and Suzuka potential day trip as well, see if there is anything on at Suzuka.
Hiroshima, 11 hours from Tokyo, so realistically book a night in a hotel down that end, but if I am staying the night, I want to know what there is to do there.
Would love to do some rural areas and see ancient temples, but really not sure where yet.
My big concern though, driving in Japan, yes it is RHD and the indicator stalk is on the correct side of the vehicle, but whilst I am undertaking the task of learning Japanese, what is the etiquette there? How hard is parking in Tokyo and moving around there? And where do I get an international driving licence?
Also any epic roads where I can become the supah l337 dryft mastah of mega profit in my fwd auto box?
Last issue, where to stay, haven't booked hotel yet, the more I think about it, the more I think it is not wise to stay in Tokyo, as only really need a day in Tokyo, and from what I have gathered the traffic can be a nightmare.
Anything else is greatly appreciated
I can't help with the driving side of things but while in Tokyo I used the underground to get about. Its fantastic so I wouldn't bother with a car for that part.
I was only there 3 days so didn't get much further out - apart from a trip on the Bullet Train to see Mt Fuji - it was too cloudy to see it though - doh!
I was only there 3 days so didn't get much further out - apart from a trip on the Bullet Train to see Mt Fuji - it was too cloudy to see it though - doh!
Again, can't help on the driving side of things - having spent a reasonable amount of time in Japan, both with work and for a holiday, tackling the roads / maps / signs etc sounds very brave to me....
When we traveled round Japan, we made use of the tourist train visa thing (JR train pass) which gives you unlimited use of the trains in Japan and is an ideal way to get around (we went for the first class option for about £300 for 2 weeks on the trains). It has to be bought before you leave the UK and can be picked up at any station.
In terms of Tokyo - definitely see Tokyo. We always stay fairly centrally in Akasaka and you can guarantee a good night out in Tokyo.
Hiroshima - also worth a visit...
We spent a day in Hiroshima, the atomic bomb museum is very good but sobering.
Hiroshima does a great line of noodle pancake things called okonomiyaki which are cooked in front of you and are delicious. Several restaurants in the center of town do these.
Hiroshima is also close-ish to Miyajima which is also well worth going to. If you have the train pass, then you can use the local train to the ferry and the train pass also gets you on the ferry across to Miyajima. I guess you could drive to the ferry, although you can't take your car across as they are not allowed on Miyajima.
Bob
When we traveled round Japan, we made use of the tourist train visa thing (JR train pass) which gives you unlimited use of the trains in Japan and is an ideal way to get around (we went for the first class option for about £300 for 2 weeks on the trains). It has to be bought before you leave the UK and can be picked up at any station.
In terms of Tokyo - definitely see Tokyo. We always stay fairly centrally in Akasaka and you can guarantee a good night out in Tokyo.
Hiroshima - also worth a visit...
We spent a day in Hiroshima, the atomic bomb museum is very good but sobering.
Hiroshima does a great line of noodle pancake things called okonomiyaki which are cooked in front of you and are delicious. Several restaurants in the center of town do these.
Hiroshima is also close-ish to Miyajima which is also well worth going to. If you have the train pass, then you can use the local train to the ferry and the train pass also gets you on the ferry across to Miyajima. I guess you could drive to the ferry, although you can't take your car across as they are not allowed on Miyajima.
Bob
Sorry I cant help on the driving queries either, but a couple of suggestions on venues.
Whilst you are in Tokyo, you might want to have a look at the Toyota Mega Web centre in the Odaiba (Tokyo Bay, all sorts of stuff down there). Not just Toyotas, there is a great car museum there too. I went using the monorail so not sure how easy it is to drive/park.
When I went to Hiroshima, I went to Miyajima, and throughly enjoyed it. I only went to the peace park in Hiroshima itself, so cannot really comment on the city, but there are a few historical sites in Miyajima. Alternatively, if you are driving to Hiroshima from Tokyo, I think you have to pass through Kyoto? If so, thats the place to stop and do the historical stuff!
Whilst you are in Tokyo, you might want to have a look at the Toyota Mega Web centre in the Odaiba (Tokyo Bay, all sorts of stuff down there). Not just Toyotas, there is a great car museum there too. I went using the monorail so not sure how easy it is to drive/park.
When I went to Hiroshima, I went to Miyajima, and throughly enjoyed it. I only went to the peace park in Hiroshima itself, so cannot really comment on the city, but there are a few historical sites in Miyajima. Alternatively, if you are driving to Hiroshima from Tokyo, I think you have to pass through Kyoto? If so, thats the place to stop and do the historical stuff!
Be aware that as you get into rural Japan it can be challenging as a tourist:
I recall one trip where the towns I stayed in left me limited to eating in either the hotel (uninspired) or, by virtue of being unable to identify which of the buildings contained restaurants (so small they didn't have the plastic food windows outside), the supermarket (which was easy to identify).
For the best roads, I'd guess at Nagano prefecture: solely due to the number of Japan's highest peaks it contains. Didn't see a single Westerner when I was there last, although I didn't really go looking for any. Just had a quick google and this sort of route could be interesting (from a tourist rather than PH perspective)? http://www.kandou10.jp/en/course/detail7_0.html
In addition to temples, I'd also add at least one castle to your must see list.
I recall one trip where the towns I stayed in left me limited to eating in either the hotel (uninspired) or, by virtue of being unable to identify which of the buildings contained restaurants (so small they didn't have the plastic food windows outside), the supermarket (which was easy to identify).
For the best roads, I'd guess at Nagano prefecture: solely due to the number of Japan's highest peaks it contains. Didn't see a single Westerner when I was there last, although I didn't really go looking for any. Just had a quick google and this sort of route could be interesting (from a tourist rather than PH perspective)? http://www.kandou10.jp/en/course/detail7_0.html
In addition to temples, I'd also add at least one castle to your must see list.
fat80b said:
Again, can't help on the driving side of things - having spent a reasonable amount of time in Japan, both with work and for a holiday, tackling the roads / maps / signs etc sounds very brave to me....
When we traveled round Japan, we made use of the tourist train visa thing (JR train pass) which gives you unlimited use of the trains in Japan and is an ideal way to get around (we went for the first class option for about £300 for 2 weeks on the trains). It has to be bought before you leave the UK and can be picked up at any station.
In terms of Tokyo - definitely see Tokyo. We always stay fairly centrally in Akasaka and you can guarantee a good night out in Tokyo.
Hiroshima - also worth a visit...
We spent a day in Hiroshima, the atomic bomb museum is very good but sobering.
Hiroshima does a great line of noodle pancake things called okonomiyaki which are cooked in front of you and are delicious. Several restaurants in the center of town do these.
Hiroshima is also close-ish to Miyajima which is also well worth going to. If you have the train pass, then you can use the local train to the ferry and the train pass also gets you on the ferry across to Miyajima. I guess you could drive to the ferry, although you can't take your car across as they are not allowed on Miyajima.
Bob
Looked at rail pass and it just isn't viable really as we want to do a lot of traveling around, it is 8 hours or so by public transport to Suzuka from Tokyo, or 5 by car, and it is like £300 each for the travel pass each, where as a car is £400 all in, and we aren't stuck to time schedules of public transport and no running from connection to connection.When we traveled round Japan, we made use of the tourist train visa thing (JR train pass) which gives you unlimited use of the trains in Japan and is an ideal way to get around (we went for the first class option for about £300 for 2 weeks on the trains). It has to be bought before you leave the UK and can be picked up at any station.
In terms of Tokyo - definitely see Tokyo. We always stay fairly centrally in Akasaka and you can guarantee a good night out in Tokyo.
Hiroshima - also worth a visit...
We spent a day in Hiroshima, the atomic bomb museum is very good but sobering.
Hiroshima does a great line of noodle pancake things called okonomiyaki which are cooked in front of you and are delicious. Several restaurants in the center of town do these.
Hiroshima is also close-ish to Miyajima which is also well worth going to. If you have the train pass, then you can use the local train to the ferry and the train pass also gets you on the ferry across to Miyajima. I guess you could drive to the ferry, although you can't take your car across as they are not allowed on Miyajima.
Bob
Yes, driving in Japan does seem daunting
pits said:
Hiroshima, 11 hours from Tokyo, so realistically book a night in a hotel down that end, but if I am staying the night, I want to know what there is to do there.
You're not planning on driving to Hiroshima are you? pits said:
My big concern though, driving in Japan, yes it is RHD and the indicator stalk is on the correct side of the vehicle, but whilst I am undertaking the task of learning Japanese, what is the etiquette there? How hard is parking in Tokyo and moving around there? And where do I get an international driving licence?
The only two problems I had driving in Japan are sometimes the traffic lights are difficult to spot asthere are so many signs and things around, and that if you turn left on a green signal, the people crossing
the road will also have a green signal so you need to try and not run them over.
There's lots of parking in automated car parks in Tokyo, but it's usually hourly, so pretty expensive.
You can get an international driving license from the post office, make sure you tell them you are going
to Japan as there are two types.
pits said:
as only really need a day in Tokyo, and from what I have gathered the traffic can be a nightmare.
Looked at rail pass and it just isn't viable really as we want to do a lot of traveling around, it is 8 hours or so by public transport to Suzuka from Tokyo, or 5 by car, and it is like £300 each for the travel pass each, where as a car is £400 all in, and we aren't stuck to time schedules of public transport and no running from connection to connection.
The traffic isn't bad in Tokyo, but there are lots of traffic lights and junctions so you can't really getLooked at rail pass and it just isn't viable really as we want to do a lot of traveling around, it is 8 hours or so by public transport to Suzuka from Tokyo, or 5 by car, and it is like £300 each for the travel pass each, where as a car is £400 all in, and we aren't stuck to time schedules of public transport and no running from connection to connection.
anywhere quickly.
Suzuka is just over three hours on the train + taxi from Tokyo, why do you think it is 8?
The motorways are all toll roads so you need to add in the cost of the toll.
If you are planning on going to Mt. Fuji, the roads up the mountain are shut to private cars over the
weekends and some Friday/Tuesdays in the summer. I drove there one August and couldn't even see the mountain
as is was covered in fog!
Oh, the obon holiday is in August, expect 10-20 mile queues on the motorways as everyone in the country
goes back to their hometown.
Seriously, take the train!
What he said.
I've been to Japan twice (on business). Amazing country. Love it. But would I drive there? No way. The jet lag puts you to sleep at strange times. No-one speaks English. The road signs and road layouts (at least in Tokyo) are indecipherable). I'm not sure even a sat nav would be of much use. Parking, I imagine, would be a complete nightmare. And I wouldn't have had a clue about how to use the petrol stations!
However the train system is one of the best in the world. Taking a Shinkasen (bullet train) to another city is an unforgettable experience. The Tokyo Underground is a joy to use. The best way for the "Gaijin" (non-Japanese) to use taxis is to get pre-printed address cards of your hotels and hand them to the taxi driver as and when you need them.
I realise Clarkson made driving around in Japan in a GTR a hoot. But he probably had an entire Japanese support crew to help him.
Use public transport and I guarantee you will have a much better and stress-free time.
If you really want to travel by car, hire a Japanese driver!
ETA: Tokyo is one of the world's great cities. You'd be wasting a huge opportunity by only spending a day there. You'd need the best part of a day just to take in the gadget and electronics shops in Akiharbara, which makes Currys and Dixons seem like something out of the 17th Century.
I've been to Japan twice (on business). Amazing country. Love it. But would I drive there? No way. The jet lag puts you to sleep at strange times. No-one speaks English. The road signs and road layouts (at least in Tokyo) are indecipherable). I'm not sure even a sat nav would be of much use. Parking, I imagine, would be a complete nightmare. And I wouldn't have had a clue about how to use the petrol stations!
However the train system is one of the best in the world. Taking a Shinkasen (bullet train) to another city is an unforgettable experience. The Tokyo Underground is a joy to use. The best way for the "Gaijin" (non-Japanese) to use taxis is to get pre-printed address cards of your hotels and hand them to the taxi driver as and when you need them.
I realise Clarkson made driving around in Japan in a GTR a hoot. But he probably had an entire Japanese support crew to help him.
Use public transport and I guarantee you will have a much better and stress-free time.
If you really want to travel by car, hire a Japanese driver!
ETA: Tokyo is one of the world's great cities. You'd be wasting a huge opportunity by only spending a day there. You'd need the best part of a day just to take in the gadget and electronics shops in Akiharbara, which makes Currys and Dixons seem like something out of the 17th Century.
Edited by audidoody on Monday 2nd January 10:42
First, August WILL be hot and humid in the southern half of Honshu (and probably further north than that). Be prepared for it.
Second, the Japanese are lovely people, but they don't cater for Western tourists in the same way that e.g. SE Asia does.
Driving? Haven't a clue, but ALL of the signs we saw when in taxis were in kanji only. Think about that for a minute...then think about it some more!!! Not impossible, but you'll need an impeccably reliable sat-nav, as you won't know how to correct for any foibles it may have.
Also, whilst in the cities there are often people who speak SOME english and are willing to offer assistance, in the towns and countryside that drops-off quite notably.
Tokyo? Each to their own - we weren't that taken by it - TOO big, TOO busy, TOO rushed. Akihabhara etc. are all very well if you're a gadget-hound, but I'd far rather spend more time seeing the rest of the country:-
- local Matsuri (traditional festivals) - see if any are on while you're there. Twee but really enjoyable and amazing to watch.
- Kamakura - (twice?) monthly horseback archery competition at the local temple - absolutely awesome, one of our highlights.
- Miyajima shrine
- Himeji castle
- Temples upon temples upon temples - Golden Temple in Kyoto is a must-see, and Nara was lovely.
- Fuji-san, whether driving or walking
- ...
Second, the Japanese are lovely people, but they don't cater for Western tourists in the same way that e.g. SE Asia does.
Driving? Haven't a clue, but ALL of the signs we saw when in taxis were in kanji only. Think about that for a minute...then think about it some more!!! Not impossible, but you'll need an impeccably reliable sat-nav, as you won't know how to correct for any foibles it may have.
Also, whilst in the cities there are often people who speak SOME english and are willing to offer assistance, in the towns and countryside that drops-off quite notably.
Tokyo? Each to their own - we weren't that taken by it - TOO big, TOO busy, TOO rushed. Akihabhara etc. are all very well if you're a gadget-hound, but I'd far rather spend more time seeing the rest of the country:-
- local Matsuri (traditional festivals) - see if any are on while you're there. Twee but really enjoyable and amazing to watch.
- Kamakura - (twice?) monthly horseback archery competition at the local temple - absolutely awesome, one of our highlights.
- Miyajima shrine
- Himeji castle
- Temples upon temples upon temples - Golden Temple in Kyoto is a must-see, and Nara was lovely.
- Fuji-san, whether driving or walking
- ...
Well, I am starting to learn Japanese and going to study videos and signs to figure out how to drive over there, I mean how hard can it be?
Travel pass isn't viable option, my partner can't afford an extra £150 being a student it is going to be tight as it is for her so the least we can spend on travel the better the car is a much more sensible option even if it makes my life more difficult, but again how hard can it be? I can't go to Japan and miss out on epic roads.
Most importantly we want to see what we want when we want and not be governed by public transport
Dates, will fall into Obon, but not alot we can do about that really.
Where do I get a Bill Oddy mask?
Travel pass isn't viable option, my partner can't afford an extra £150 being a student it is going to be tight as it is for her so the least we can spend on travel the better the car is a much more sensible option even if it makes my life more difficult, but again how hard can it be? I can't go to Japan and miss out on epic roads.
Most importantly we want to see what we want when we want and not be governed by public transport
Dates, will fall into Obon, but not alot we can do about that really.
Where do I get a Bill Oddy mask?
pits said:
Yes, driving in Japan does seem daunting
I've always had a driver when I've been there, but would happily drive if I knew I could get destinations into the satnav. The roads never seemed daunting from a traffic perspective but there is obviously significant potential to get lost!I have no idea if such a thing exists, but one does wonder if a UK TomTom/Garmin unit with Japanese maps would be worth investigating?
I have been to Japan twice for extended 'holidays';
The first time (Spring 2009) I was there for a month and took the JR train pass and also used local trains on a trip by trip basis. You can't beat the train pass, especially if you're taking long 'shinkansen' journeys, Yokohama-Nagoya would have been ~£100 return for example. I just about broke even when I counted back the trips as I only did one long return journey from Shin-Yokohama to Nagoya and back, the pass is good though as you don't have to queue for tickets and have funds available at the sometimes hectic stations. The local trains on top of my rail pass cost about £40 for the whole holiday. Also the Narita Express was included which is handy on arrival; when you're tired and want to get to/from the airport with your bags with no hassle and you can recline the seat and relax.
The second time (Jan 2011) I stayed in Tokyo for a nights in a hotel followed by a 10 day stay at a friends outside Yokohama and still used the JR trains and Narita Express and local trains. I travelled to Tokyo most days from his house too. As I said the train pass wasn't needed the second time (as the 7 day pass wouldn't have been long enough and I knew I could ge to Tokyo for about £15 a day for the time I was at my friends house). On this visit I had the use of his company van. I managed to drive it one evening on my own to visit a few car 'spots' and he came with me one evening to visit Daikoku Futo. The van was automatic and easy to drive being rhd and driving on the left. But without the ability to read signs or have a sat nav you have no chance unless you are fluent in Japanese and can quickly read Kanji. Even though I can recognise Katakana and some Hiragana - there is no way you can do 'translations' on the fly whilst driving unless you're fluent.
My friend lives here:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?ftid=0x6018518...
And in this 'residential' district of Yokohama the roads are ok and you can park easily enough (but without a parking space you're going to pay loads)
As you get closer to Yokohama and ultimately Tokyo I can't see why a car would be useful; slow traffic, hard to navigate, expensive parking, toll roads.
I guess a good way to try what it's like driving in urban Japan would be to buy a Japanese language London A-Z and without sat nav try driving around London for the day. If you don't get lost or stressed then try hiring the car in Japan.
Petrol is cheaper than here but you going to burn a lot of fuel along with the hire fees and parking.
I can't see how it would be cheaper than two JR visitor rail passes.
The first time (Spring 2009) I was there for a month and took the JR train pass and also used local trains on a trip by trip basis. You can't beat the train pass, especially if you're taking long 'shinkansen' journeys, Yokohama-Nagoya would have been ~£100 return for example. I just about broke even when I counted back the trips as I only did one long return journey from Shin-Yokohama to Nagoya and back, the pass is good though as you don't have to queue for tickets and have funds available at the sometimes hectic stations. The local trains on top of my rail pass cost about £40 for the whole holiday. Also the Narita Express was included which is handy on arrival; when you're tired and want to get to/from the airport with your bags with no hassle and you can recline the seat and relax.
The second time (Jan 2011) I stayed in Tokyo for a nights in a hotel followed by a 10 day stay at a friends outside Yokohama and still used the JR trains and Narita Express and local trains. I travelled to Tokyo most days from his house too. As I said the train pass wasn't needed the second time (as the 7 day pass wouldn't have been long enough and I knew I could ge to Tokyo for about £15 a day for the time I was at my friends house). On this visit I had the use of his company van. I managed to drive it one evening on my own to visit a few car 'spots' and he came with me one evening to visit Daikoku Futo. The van was automatic and easy to drive being rhd and driving on the left. But without the ability to read signs or have a sat nav you have no chance unless you are fluent in Japanese and can quickly read Kanji. Even though I can recognise Katakana and some Hiragana - there is no way you can do 'translations' on the fly whilst driving unless you're fluent.
My friend lives here:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?ftid=0x6018518...
And in this 'residential' district of Yokohama the roads are ok and you can park easily enough (but without a parking space you're going to pay loads)
As you get closer to Yokohama and ultimately Tokyo I can't see why a car would be useful; slow traffic, hard to navigate, expensive parking, toll roads.
I guess a good way to try what it's like driving in urban Japan would be to buy a Japanese language London A-Z and without sat nav try driving around London for the day. If you don't get lost or stressed then try hiring the car in Japan.
Petrol is cheaper than here but you going to burn a lot of fuel along with the hire fees and parking.
I can't see how it would be cheaper than two JR visitor rail passes.
you're nuts getting a car over a rail pass, either for cost or time/convenience reasons, but it sounds like you don't want to be persuaded! Use this to check train journeys
http://www.mybus.co.uk/apply/ghibli.html
Tokyo - Suzuka, 162 mins
studio ghibli is not in the centre of tokyo, it will probably take you at least an hour to get between the two of them, which won't leave you a lot of time to see the city. Make sure you have seen as many Ghibli films as possible first, you will get more from the museum then. Book your tickets here
http://www.mybus.co.uk/apply/ghibli.html
have fun
http://www.mybus.co.uk/apply/ghibli.html
Tokyo - Suzuka, 162 mins
studio ghibli is not in the centre of tokyo, it will probably take you at least an hour to get between the two of them, which won't leave you a lot of time to see the city. Make sure you have seen as many Ghibli films as possible first, you will get more from the museum then. Book your tickets here
http://www.mybus.co.uk/apply/ghibli.html
have fun
Edited by tontoro on Tuesday 3rd January 21:10
havoc said:
Guys, tontoro is right - the OP hasn't come here for advice, but rather for affirmation of his decision. He's not getting that and won't listen.
It's his holiday, it's up to him...
It's his holiday, it's up to him...
OP said:
Car rental, been looking and it seems to be the cheapest and best option
But it's not the cheapest nor the best option...
If you do insist on driving keep in mind that street names and addresses have no logic. It's not like here where you have building 1 next to building 2 / odds on one side, evens on the other. Iirc japanese addresses are based on the age of the buildings/developments etc... even satnav might struggle; from what I remember you have to enter your destination on most japanese systems by phone number.
Good luck
Good luck
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